Acute midfoot injuries and their management

Acute injuries of the midfoot are uncommon and can be challenging to diagnose and manage. These injuries are frequently overlooked, as the initial plain radiographs, can be difficult to interpret or are misleading. As the consequences of a missed midfoot injury can be devastating for the patient and are so difficult to treat, all orthopaedic surgeons should be highly suspicious when managing patients with midfoot trauma. This article summarizes the current literature about the midfoot injuries and focuses in their management. Non-displaced fractures and stable injuries can be treated conservatively with immobilization for 4–6 weeks. Displaced fractures, unstable or high-energy complex injuries should be treated surgically. Extra care should be given to maintain the length of the medial and lateral columns, in order to avoid long-term deformity and disability. In general the achievement of anatomic reduction and stable fixation of these injuries leads to good functional long term outcomes.     

500 Intragastric Balloons: What Happens 5 Years Thereafter?

Background

The BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB) has been considered an effective, less invasive method for weight loss, as it provides a permanent sensation of satiety. However, various non-randomized studies suggest BIB is a temporary anti-obesity treatment, which induces only a short-term weight loss. The purpose of this study was to present data of 500 obese who, after BIB-induced weight reduction, were followed up for up to 5?years.

Methods

The BioEnterics BIB was used, and remained for 6?months. At 6, 12, and 24?months post-removal (and yearly thereafter), all subjects were contacted for follow-up.

Results

From 500 patients enrolled, 26 were excluded (treatment protocol interruption); 474 thus remained, having initial body weight of 126.16?±?28.32?kg, BMI of 43.73?±?8.39?kg/m², and excess weight (EW) of 61.35?±?25.41. At time of removal, 79 (17%) were excluded as having percent excessive weight loss (EWL) of <20%; the remaining 395 had weight loss of 23.91?±?9.08?kg (18.73%), BMI reduction of 8.34?±?3.14?kg/m² (18.82%), and percent EWL of 42.34?±?19.07. At 6 and 12?months, 387 (98%) and 352 (89%) presented with weight loss of 24.14?±?8.93 and 16.31?±?7.41?kg, BMI reduction of 8.41?±?3.10 and 5.67?±?2.55?kg/m², and percent EWL of 42.73?±?18.87 and 27.71?±?13.40, respectively. At 12 and 24?months, 187 (53%) and 96 (27%) of 352 continued to have percent EWL of >20. Finally, 195 of 474 who completed the 60-month follow-up presented weight loss of 7.26?±?5.41?kg, BMI reduction of 2.53?±?1.85?kg/m², and percent EWL of 12.97?±?8.54. At this time, 46 (23%) retained the percent EWL at >20. In general, those who lost 80% of the total weight lost during the first 3 months of treatment succeeded in maintaining a percent EWL of >20 long term after BIB removal: more precisely, this cutoff point was achieved in 83% at the time of removal and in 53%, 27%, and 23% at 12-, 24-, and 60-month follow-up.

Conclusion

BIB seems to be effective for significant weight loss and maintenance for a long period thereafter, under the absolute prerequisite of patient compliance and behavior change from the very early stages of treatment.     

Direct thrombin inhibitors in the treatment of immune-mediated heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Heparin was first discovered in 1916 and at present is used in more than 12 million patients a year. In the 1950s, several physicians noticed an uncommon paradoxical phenomenon in which heparin appeared to function as a procoagulant instead of an anticoagulant. This phenomenon is now known as the immune-mediated heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and thrombosis syndrome (HITTS). Our understanding of this syndrome has evolved over the last 2 to 3 decades, and therapeutic options are arising. This article will focus on the most extensively studied therapy for HIT, which is the class of drugs known as the direct thrombin inhibitors. Specifically, we will focus on the mechanisms by which direct thrombin inhibitors may be useful in this syndrome, the evidence for their use, and the unique characteristics of the two FDA-approved agents in this class, lepirudin and argatroban.     

Epidemiological,clinical and genetic study of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy in Cyprus

Objectives. To define the incidence and prevalence of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) TTRVal30Met on the island of Cyprus. To study the clinical phenotype and genetic features of FAP TTRVal30Met in the Cypriot population.

Methods. The clinical and neurogenetic databases were used to identify probands with FAP TTRVal30Met and detailed family trees were constructed. Potential carriers of the mutation were identified from the family trees and assessed clinically and genetically. Transthyretin was completely sequenced in patients and potential carriers.

Results. Thirty-six patients carrying the TTRVal30Met mutation (one homozygote) from 22 families were identified. On 1 December 2003 the prevalence of FAP was 3.72/100,000 while the incidence is estimated to be 0.69/100,000 per year. The phenotype observed was characteristic for a length dependent sensorimotor and autonomic neuropathy with neuropathic pain. Mean age of onset was 46 years. Penetrance is estimated to be 28% and positive anticipation in the age of onset is found.

Conclusion. FAP is relatively prevalent in Cyprus which may be considered as another endemic focus of the disease in Europe. The mean age of onset and penetrance is different from the Portuguese and Swedish populations. Understanding the biological factors that determine these differences could potentially lead to therapeutic advances.     

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic assessment of a novel,pharmaceutical lipid–aspirin complex: results of a randomized,crossover, bioequivalence study

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) can lead to gastrointestinal mucosal injury through disruption of its protective phospholipid bilayer. A liquid...     

New molecular diagnostic trends and biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Two forms are recognized, familial (FALS) that accounts for 5–10% of ALS cases, and sporadic (SALS) that accounts for the rest. Early diagnosis of ALS is important because it improves their therapeutic efficacy. Current diagnosis is based on clinical assessment and requires approximately 12 months, leading to a significant delay in drug administration. Therefore, new methods are required for the earlier diagnosis of ALS. Screening for pathogenic variants in known ALS‐associated genes is already exploited as a diagnostic tool in ALS but cannot be applied for population‐based screening. New circulating biomarkers (proteins or small molecules) are needed for initial screening, whereas specific diagnostic methods can be applied to confirm the presence of pathogenic variants in the selected population subgroup. Lipids appear as promising biomarkers for population‐based screening and for monitoring disease progression. Genetic analysis can also assist in the prediction of disease progression by analyzing disease‐modifying genes, for example, EPHA4 and CHGB. Furthermore, molecular diagnosis will aid the stratification of ALS patients for improved pharmacological approaches. Here, we discuss current and novel diagnostic strategies and how they can be applied to revolutionize the field of ALS molecular diagnosis.     

Effect of Crocus sativus (Saffron) Intake on Top of Standard Treatment,on Disease Outcomes and Comorbidities in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases: Synthesis without Meta-Analysis (SWiM) and Level of Adherence to the CONSORT Statement for Randomized Controlled Trials Delivering Herbal Medicine Interventions

Rheumatic diseases (RDs) are often complicated by chronic symptoms and frequent side-effects associated with their treatment. Saffron, a spice derived from the Crocus sativus L. flower, is a popular complementary and alternative medicine among patients with RDs. The present systematic review aimed to summarize the available evidence regarding the efficacy of supplementation with saffron on disease outcomes and comorbidities in patients with RD diagnoses. PubMed, CENTRAL, clinicaltrials.gov and the grey literature were searched until October 2021, and relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were screened for eligibility using Rayyan. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane’s Risk of Bias-2.0 (RoB) tool. A synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) was performed by vote counting and an effect direction plot was created. Out of 125 reports, seven fulfilled the eligibility criteria belonging to five RCTs and were included in the SWiM. The RCTs involved patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, and evaluated outcomes related to pain, disease activity, depression, immune response, inflammation, oxidative stress, health, fatigue and functional ability. The majority of trials demonstrated some concerns regarding overall bias. Moreover, the majority of trialists failed to adhere to the formula elaborations suggested by the CONSORT statement for RCTs incorporating herbal medicine interventions. Standardization of herbal medicine confirms its identity, purity and quality; however, the majority of trials failed to adhere to these guidelines. Due to the great heterogeneity and the lack of important information regarding the standardization and content of herbal interventions, it appears that the evidence is not enough to secure a direction of effect for any of the examined outcomes.